‘The Flash’ Review: “Family of Rogues”

This week’s episode saw the return of Captain Cold (Wentworth Miller) and his sister Lisa Snart (Peyton List). The two were fan favorites last season as more of anti-heroes than villains. Viewers also meet their father, Lewis Snart (Michael Ironside), and through him understand that the Snarts did not have an easy childhood.

Wentworth MillerPhoto Credits: IMDB

The episode begins with more hints of a budding romance between Barry Allen (Gustin Grant) and newly minted detective Patty Spivot (Shantel VanSanten) as he is getting coffee with Team Flash at the fully rebuilt Jitters. Lisa approaches the team and asks for the Flash’s help because her brother has supposedly been kidnapped. When Barry discovers that Captain Cold has not been kidnapped but is working with his father, Lisa is shocked and confused.

Most of the episode revolves around that storyline, including the revelation that Lewis has secretly placed a bomb in Lisa’s head in order to get his son to work for him. As a whole, the episode has a very light, humorous tone. It seems more to reintroduce Cold before his upcoming appearance in Legends of Tomorrow than to advance the story, but it is still tremendously entertaining.

Danielle Panabaker, Carlos Valdes, Grant GustinPhoto Credits: IMDB

There are more serious moments like when detective Joe West (Jesse L. Martin) sees Iris West’s (Candice Patton) mother again for the first time in twenty years. That scene between Joe and Iris ranks as one of the best moments of the entire series; the scene is incredibly well acted by both Patton and Martin. Not a moment feels out of place.

Jay Garrick (Teddy Sears) takes a bit of a backseat this episode compared to his prominence in last week’s episode, and it will be interesting to see how the show decides to use him going forward or if and when he will return to Earth-Two. His internal conflict about not having his powers in the episode was compelling. It makes the viewer wonder if he will regain his powers and become a second Flash or if his presence has always been intended to be a short-lived nod to a simpler era of comic book history.

Jesse L. MartinPhoto Credits: IMDB

The romantic tension between Cisco Ramon (Carlos Valdes) and Lisa as he attempts to remove the bomb inside of her is sweet. The same goes for Jay and Caitlin Snow (Danielle Panabaker) as he fixes the breach to Earth-Two that was discovered inside of Star Labs. Martin Stein (Victor Garber) also continues to be in ill health throughout the episode, which will inevitably lead to his merging with a new Firestorm next week.

It’s another solid episode in the series; it is one that will keep fans watching and new viewers interested to see what else the show has to offer.